Chapter 9: Hospital
Floating in the darkness, Hitomi relaxed. The void was comforting, although around the edges she could sense the pain that would commence if she concentrated on becoming aware of the real world. So she ignored it and remained content to float. Gradually a dim light began to shine, banishing the darkness. Hitomi raised a hand to shield her eyes from the oncoming glare.
Hitomi found herself on a familiar hillside, one she had seen two other times.
"This is getting repetitive" she grumbled to herself as she looked around for Folken or the children that had been there in her previous visions. To her surprise, she saw that she was alone. The hillside that had been so green and alive in her previous visions was faded and dying. The brown grass whispered softly in the dusty breeze that gently swept Hitomi's hair back from her face.
In front of her were two paths. One was slightly worn and twisted, leading off her left into shadows. The second was a well-traveled path, brightly lit and welcoming as it disappeared over the horizon to her right. She studied the two paths, and was about to take a step onto the brightly lit one when a figure appeared in front of her. Hitomi jumped back in surprise and stared at the little girl and the ghostly little boys accompanying her. The children stood in a line behind the girl, who was apparently the leader.
The little girl stood before Hitomi, who guessed her age to be about eight. Hitomi studied her, eyes roaming over the childish face that was grave with an intent expression. Long black hair fell over her forehead and partially covering her eyes. A desire to brush her hair from her forehead so she could clearly see the girl's eyes stirred in Hitomi. She looked beyond the girl to the boys behind her, but their indistinct forms shifted and flickered. She turned her attention to the ringleader.
"Hello?" she said cautiously, but the girl made no sound or motion. Hitomi waited a few seconds and, when nothing happened, began again to step down the path to her right. The little girl again blocked her way and her expression changed from intense to an entreating look.
"You don't want me to go this way," Hitomi guessed and the girl's face lit up. The children behind her shifted and their expressions lighten hopefully. Hitomi glanced down the other path, which was growing more threatening by the second with dark clouds billowing.
"Why?" Hitomi asked.
All the children's faces fell. Hitomi felt a stab of remorse for causing their sadness, but she wasn't about to go down a potentially deadly, not to mention scary, trail on the whim of a child, even if it was in a vision.
The girl looked frustrated, but didn't speak. Hitomi waited for a moment patiently, then shifted her weight and made a motion to leave. Suddenly the girl lifted her head, squared her shoulders, and a pair of white wings unfurled from her back. Hitomi jumped back in shock, her mouth dropping open. After a few seconds, Hitomi acted on impulse and reached out, sweeping the girl's hair out of her face. She found herself staring into a pair of intent green eyes, a mirror image of her own and her mother's before her.
"You're not real." Hitomi said flatly. The girl gave a small smile and shrugged, as if to say that it was up to Hitomi whether she was real or not.
"Who are you?" she asked, but the girl's smile just grew as if she could feel Hitomi's resolve weakening. Hitomi found herself involuntarily nodding, yielding to the child's pleading look. "'And I took the one less traveled and that made all the difference,'" she murmured, more to herself than the girl.
The little girl leapt forward, wrapping her arms around Hitomi's waist and hugging her. Then she stepped back and without a noise they all disappeared.
Hitomi looked down the hostile pathway. She inhaled and took a step forward.
And her world exploded with pain.
Van sat by the bed, Hitomi's hand clutched in his. He was exhausted and the drinks that Yukari had provided, although had kept him awake, were leaving him jittery and nervous. He was suspicious of all the tubes and wires surrounding Hitomi even though her mother had tried to explain their purpose and how they were helping Hitomi. And the mindless repetitive beeping of the machines was going to drive him crazy. He wanted nothing more than to gather her up, fly her home and let Millerna look after her in a friendly place. Not leave her in this frightening sterile environment with people hiding behind gowns and masks.
The time from when they had found her and the current moment was a blur. He vaguely recalled the trip from the alley where he had cradled Hitomi's battered figure in his arms to the hospital he was now in. Strange people had spoken to him, and Miako had acted as a mediator, translating when necessary. After refusing to part with her, Van had been allowed to ride from the alley to the hospital in a strange vehicle that screamed loud sirens. The experience was nightmarish at best and Van was physically and mentally on edge.
He tried to be hopeful about Miako's explanations before he left to fetch drinks for his parents, who were talking with the police. Miako had described what the doctor's said about Hitomi's condition. She had suffered several blows to the head, multiple lacerations, but no crippling injuries. The doctors were had hope that she would recover with time, but could not tell them if and when she would wake. 'Time,' they had said, looking solemn. 'It's all a matter of time.'
He looked up at Merle, who was standing at his side. She was watching Hitomi with worried eyes and Van could picture her ears twitching under the soft cloth hat Hitomi's mother had brought for her to wear, in addition to a long skirt.
Through the whole ordeal Merle had stood at his side, silently lending her support. Even now she was with him, there to give him her strength. She met his eyes compassionately and said with complete confidence. "Don't worry. Hitomi will wake up. Soon. She'll be fine."
A groan made Van's attention snap back to the bed.
"Don't be too sure of that," Hitomi mumbled hoarsely. She opened her eyes a sliver to focus on Van as the machines next to her bed began to make insistent noises.
Van stared at her, speechless. Merle squeaked in surprise, then slipped out of the room to summon Hitomi's family as people began to flood the room. Van kept his eyes locked on Hitomi's as nurses and doctors pushed him back and began checking the machines and asking Hitomi questions. She responded when prompted, her gaze remaining on Van while the doctors shone bright lights into her eyes and checked her reflexes. Eventually the doctors were satisfied with Hitomi's responses and began to depart, leaving them with instructions that neither heard. Van and Hitomi had a few precious seconds to themselves before Hitomi's family would arrive.
"Hi," said Van, returning to the bedside to clutch Hitomi's hand.
"Hi" she whispered back. "Sorry I didn't meet you at the track. I was kinda tied up at the time."
Van smiled at the feeble joke and opened his mouth to respond when the door flew open and Hitomi's family piled into the room despite a nurse's insistent declaration that there was limit on the number of visitors in the ward. Distantly Hitomi heard Yukari tell the nurse something rude and an indignant squawk before the door was shut. Van reluctantly let go of her hand to allow her parents next to her.
Hitomi looked at her parents worried faces and smiled, the small movement easing their tensed expressions.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice creaky and hoarse, before they could flood her with questions. "Just sore and tired."
Mrs. Kanzaki smiled, her eyes brimming with thankful tears. Hitomi's father put one arm around her shoulders, and with his other hand gently pushed Hitomi's bangs out of her eyes, much the way Hitomi had done with the child in her vision.
"You had us worried, sweetheart," he said quietly, scanning his daughter for signs of pain.
Hitomi sighed and blinked slowly. "I'm sorry." Her parents both shook their heads, negating the apology. She looked at them, suddenly realizing the she must be the most ulcer-inducing child ever born. Disappearing when a teenager, being kidnapped now, and planning to marry a king from another planet. She marveled at their strength to endure as her parents and smiled at them, relaxing against the pillows.
Hitomi lifted her eyes to Van, who caught her gaze and held it. She lifted her hand for him to take and he made his way to her side, oblivious to the slightly angry look her father sent him. Merle caught the expression, however, and her tail began to lash beneath her skirt.
"You've met Van," Hitomi stated quietly. Her father gave a short nod and her mother smiled warmly at the young king. Hitomi looked past them to Merle, who was lurking on the outskirts of the group. "Merle. I knew you would find a way to come."
Merle sniffed and tossed her head. "Of course I was going to come. I've been waiting for this for seven years."
Hitomi smiled. "I have a dress for you. You can be my bridesmaid."
Merle flushed happily and restrained herself from jumping up and down. Van smiled at her joy and turned to gaze at Hitomi.
A slight frown marred Hitomi's face. "What day is it? The reservations for the service are for Saturday." She smiled cockily at Van's surprised look. "Well, I did tell you I wanted to be married before I left." Her voice trailed off in a yawn as exhaustion settled on her. "Someone wake me for Saturday," she mumbled.
"We'll discuss it later," Mr. Kanzaki murmured tersely and motioned for everyone to leave the room. Van reluctantly let go of Hitomi's hand, briefly touching her cheek before turning and following the others out under the irate gaze of the head nurse.
Hitomi's brow creased at her father's placating tone, but exhaustion had her in its grasp and she slipped into dreamless sleep before she could ask him what he meant.
Author's note: Sorry about the delay. I have been suffering from a lack of motivation and an almost fatal case of laziness. I blame it on the winter. Thanks for reading and comments, suggestions and criticisms are always welcome!
Floating in the darkness, Hitomi relaxed. The void was comforting, although around the edges she could sense the pain that would commence if she concentrated on becoming aware of the real world. So she ignored it and remained content to float. Gradually a dim light began to shine, banishing the darkness. Hitomi raised a hand to shield her eyes from the oncoming glare.
Hitomi found herself on a familiar hillside, one she had seen two other times.
"This is getting repetitive" she grumbled to herself as she looked around for Folken or the children that had been there in her previous visions. To her surprise, she saw that she was alone. The hillside that had been so green and alive in her previous visions was faded and dying. The brown grass whispered softly in the dusty breeze that gently swept Hitomi's hair back from her face.
In front of her were two paths. One was slightly worn and twisted, leading off her left into shadows. The second was a well-traveled path, brightly lit and welcoming as it disappeared over the horizon to her right. She studied the two paths, and was about to take a step onto the brightly lit one when a figure appeared in front of her. Hitomi jumped back in surprise and stared at the little girl and the ghostly little boys accompanying her. The children stood in a line behind the girl, who was apparently the leader.
The little girl stood before Hitomi, who guessed her age to be about eight. Hitomi studied her, eyes roaming over the childish face that was grave with an intent expression. Long black hair fell over her forehead and partially covering her eyes. A desire to brush her hair from her forehead so she could clearly see the girl's eyes stirred in Hitomi. She looked beyond the girl to the boys behind her, but their indistinct forms shifted and flickered. She turned her attention to the ringleader.
"Hello?" she said cautiously, but the girl made no sound or motion. Hitomi waited a few seconds and, when nothing happened, began again to step down the path to her right. The little girl again blocked her way and her expression changed from intense to an entreating look.
"You don't want me to go this way," Hitomi guessed and the girl's face lit up. The children behind her shifted and their expressions lighten hopefully. Hitomi glanced down the other path, which was growing more threatening by the second with dark clouds billowing.
"Why?" Hitomi asked.
All the children's faces fell. Hitomi felt a stab of remorse for causing their sadness, but she wasn't about to go down a potentially deadly, not to mention scary, trail on the whim of a child, even if it was in a vision.
The girl looked frustrated, but didn't speak. Hitomi waited for a moment patiently, then shifted her weight and made a motion to leave. Suddenly the girl lifted her head, squared her shoulders, and a pair of white wings unfurled from her back. Hitomi jumped back in shock, her mouth dropping open. After a few seconds, Hitomi acted on impulse and reached out, sweeping the girl's hair out of her face. She found herself staring into a pair of intent green eyes, a mirror image of her own and her mother's before her.
"You're not real." Hitomi said flatly. The girl gave a small smile and shrugged, as if to say that it was up to Hitomi whether she was real or not.
"Who are you?" she asked, but the girl's smile just grew as if she could feel Hitomi's resolve weakening. Hitomi found herself involuntarily nodding, yielding to the child's pleading look. "'And I took the one less traveled and that made all the difference,'" she murmured, more to herself than the girl.
The little girl leapt forward, wrapping her arms around Hitomi's waist and hugging her. Then she stepped back and without a noise they all disappeared.
Hitomi looked down the hostile pathway. She inhaled and took a step forward.
And her world exploded with pain.
Van sat by the bed, Hitomi's hand clutched in his. He was exhausted and the drinks that Yukari had provided, although had kept him awake, were leaving him jittery and nervous. He was suspicious of all the tubes and wires surrounding Hitomi even though her mother had tried to explain their purpose and how they were helping Hitomi. And the mindless repetitive beeping of the machines was going to drive him crazy. He wanted nothing more than to gather her up, fly her home and let Millerna look after her in a friendly place. Not leave her in this frightening sterile environment with people hiding behind gowns and masks.
The time from when they had found her and the current moment was a blur. He vaguely recalled the trip from the alley where he had cradled Hitomi's battered figure in his arms to the hospital he was now in. Strange people had spoken to him, and Miako had acted as a mediator, translating when necessary. After refusing to part with her, Van had been allowed to ride from the alley to the hospital in a strange vehicle that screamed loud sirens. The experience was nightmarish at best and Van was physically and mentally on edge.
He tried to be hopeful about Miako's explanations before he left to fetch drinks for his parents, who were talking with the police. Miako had described what the doctor's said about Hitomi's condition. She had suffered several blows to the head, multiple lacerations, but no crippling injuries. The doctors were had hope that she would recover with time, but could not tell them if and when she would wake. 'Time,' they had said, looking solemn. 'It's all a matter of time.'
He looked up at Merle, who was standing at his side. She was watching Hitomi with worried eyes and Van could picture her ears twitching under the soft cloth hat Hitomi's mother had brought for her to wear, in addition to a long skirt.
Through the whole ordeal Merle had stood at his side, silently lending her support. Even now she was with him, there to give him her strength. She met his eyes compassionately and said with complete confidence. "Don't worry. Hitomi will wake up. Soon. She'll be fine."
A groan made Van's attention snap back to the bed.
"Don't be too sure of that," Hitomi mumbled hoarsely. She opened her eyes a sliver to focus on Van as the machines next to her bed began to make insistent noises.
Van stared at her, speechless. Merle squeaked in surprise, then slipped out of the room to summon Hitomi's family as people began to flood the room. Van kept his eyes locked on Hitomi's as nurses and doctors pushed him back and began checking the machines and asking Hitomi questions. She responded when prompted, her gaze remaining on Van while the doctors shone bright lights into her eyes and checked her reflexes. Eventually the doctors were satisfied with Hitomi's responses and began to depart, leaving them with instructions that neither heard. Van and Hitomi had a few precious seconds to themselves before Hitomi's family would arrive.
"Hi," said Van, returning to the bedside to clutch Hitomi's hand.
"Hi" she whispered back. "Sorry I didn't meet you at the track. I was kinda tied up at the time."
Van smiled at the feeble joke and opened his mouth to respond when the door flew open and Hitomi's family piled into the room despite a nurse's insistent declaration that there was limit on the number of visitors in the ward. Distantly Hitomi heard Yukari tell the nurse something rude and an indignant squawk before the door was shut. Van reluctantly let go of her hand to allow her parents next to her.
Hitomi looked at her parents worried faces and smiled, the small movement easing their tensed expressions.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice creaky and hoarse, before they could flood her with questions. "Just sore and tired."
Mrs. Kanzaki smiled, her eyes brimming with thankful tears. Hitomi's father put one arm around her shoulders, and with his other hand gently pushed Hitomi's bangs out of her eyes, much the way Hitomi had done with the child in her vision.
"You had us worried, sweetheart," he said quietly, scanning his daughter for signs of pain.
Hitomi sighed and blinked slowly. "I'm sorry." Her parents both shook their heads, negating the apology. She looked at them, suddenly realizing the she must be the most ulcer-inducing child ever born. Disappearing when a teenager, being kidnapped now, and planning to marry a king from another planet. She marveled at their strength to endure as her parents and smiled at them, relaxing against the pillows.
Hitomi lifted her eyes to Van, who caught her gaze and held it. She lifted her hand for him to take and he made his way to her side, oblivious to the slightly angry look her father sent him. Merle caught the expression, however, and her tail began to lash beneath her skirt.
"You've met Van," Hitomi stated quietly. Her father gave a short nod and her mother smiled warmly at the young king. Hitomi looked past them to Merle, who was lurking on the outskirts of the group. "Merle. I knew you would find a way to come."
Merle sniffed and tossed her head. "Of course I was going to come. I've been waiting for this for seven years."
Hitomi smiled. "I have a dress for you. You can be my bridesmaid."
Merle flushed happily and restrained herself from jumping up and down. Van smiled at her joy and turned to gaze at Hitomi.
A slight frown marred Hitomi's face. "What day is it? The reservations for the service are for Saturday." She smiled cockily at Van's surprised look. "Well, I did tell you I wanted to be married before I left." Her voice trailed off in a yawn as exhaustion settled on her. "Someone wake me for Saturday," she mumbled.
"We'll discuss it later," Mr. Kanzaki murmured tersely and motioned for everyone to leave the room. Van reluctantly let go of Hitomi's hand, briefly touching her cheek before turning and following the others out under the irate gaze of the head nurse.
Hitomi's brow creased at her father's placating tone, but exhaustion had her in its grasp and she slipped into dreamless sleep before she could ask him what he meant.
Author's note: Sorry about the delay. I have been suffering from a lack of motivation and an almost fatal case of laziness. I blame it on the winter. Thanks for reading and comments, suggestions and criticisms are always welcome!